Which place is cheaper, Rabat or Jaisalmer?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jaisalmer or Rabat?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Jaisalmer or Rabat? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Jaisalmer or Rabat?
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.
Rabat
While not high on the tourist destination list, Rabat is a quiet gem of a city with stunning colonial architecture and palm-lined streets. This political capital is a laid-back, pleasant alternative to the more cosmopolitan Casablanca.
Located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg, Rabat plus the city of Temera are home to a combined metropolitan population of 2.6 million.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best 2-Week Tours in Morocco, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJaisalmer $37Rabat $43
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaisalmer is $37, while the average daily cost in Rabat is $43. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Jaisalmer and Rabat in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaisalmer $14Rabat $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaisalmer $28Rabat $54
Compare Hotels in Jaisalmer and Rabat
Looking for a hotel in Jaisalmer or Rabat? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Jaisalmer Hotel Prices and Rabat Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaisalmer $12Rabat $2.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer
Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Agra: $181
- Jaipur to Jaisalmer Transfer: $170
- Private Transfers Jaisalmer To Bikaner Drop: $123
- Private transfer from Jaisalmer to Bikaner: $120
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Ahmedabad: $117
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jaipur: $117
- Transfer From Jaisalmer To Udaipur Via Ranakpur Jain Temple: $90
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Pushkar: $85
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Bikaner: $65
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Bikaner : $62
- From Bikaner : Private Transfer To Jaisalmer: $60
- From Jaisalmer : Private Transfer To Bikaner: $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rabat
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Rabat:
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Taxi to Sale$3.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rabat
Also for Rabat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from Rabat To Chefchaouen: $285
- Private Transfer from Rabat (RBA) Airport to Fes: $274
- Transfer Rabat to Essaouira: $264
- Private Transfer from Rabat (RBA) Airport to El Jadida: $263
- Private Transfer from Rabat (RBA) Airport to Larache: $256
- Transfer Private From Rabat to Tetouan: $231
- Private Transfer from Rabat-Sale Airport (RBA) to Casablanca: $222
- Private Transfer From Fez To Rabat: $207
- Private Transfer from Rabat To Fez: $207
- One-Way Transfer from Rabat to Fez via meknes & volubilis : $198
- Private Transfer from Rabat (RBA) Airport to Meknes: $197
- Private transfer from Rabat to Casablanca: $191
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaisalmer or Rabat?
Prices for flights to both Rabat and Jaisalmer change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayJaisalmer $13Rabat $12
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:
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Dinner$4.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day SunSet Tour with Dinner: $26
- Jaisalmer Heritage Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $28
- Half Day Camel Safari Sunset with Dinner Tour (Non Touristic): $30
- Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $33
- Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
- Half Day Desert Safari with Camel ride & dinner: $42
- 4×4 Jeep Safari And Camel Safari With Dinner On Sand dunes: $48
- DiNnER !N G0LdEN DE$ERT 0F jASeLMeR: $55
- DiNnER iN HeVeN /aT Golden Desert of Jaisalmer: $55
- Away from the Crowd Dinner on dunes/ In Non Touristic Desert: $55
- Half Day City Tour of Jaisalmer visit Sunset by Camel Ride with Dinner: $56
- Half Day City Tour of Jaisalmer Sunset at Sand Dunes & Dinner: $64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rabat
For Rabat, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Small Group Cooking Classes with Tour of Rabat : $45
- Join Best Moroccan Cooking Class with Chef Khadija ( Over 35 years Experience ): $49
- Cooking Class in a Family Home: $66
- Walking Food Tour: $76
- Rabat Food Tour in the Old Town: $76
- Rabat Food Tour Like a Local: $76
- Rabat Family Cooking Class: $76
- Traditional Moroccan Cooking Class in Rabat with a Local Family: $110
- Private Market Tour and Authentic Moroccan Cooking Lesson with a Rabat Local: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jaisalmer $12Rabat $2.83
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sam Sand Dunes for Two$3.60
Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.
- 1 Night Desert Experience Sleeping Under Star Near Jodhpur: $56
- 1 night 2 day thar desert experience & village lifestyle: $38
- 2 Days-1 Night Camel Tour: $103
- 2 Nights 3 Days Jaisalmer Tour & Non-Touristic Camel Safari: $210
- 3 Days Jaisalmer Private Tour: $180
- 3 Days Jaisalmer Tour From Jodhpur: $270
- 3 Days Tour in Wild Desert Safari: $80
- 3-Day Private Tour of Jaisalmer with Desert Camp Experience: $173
- 4 - Days Jaisalmer And Jodhpur Combo Tour: $180
- 4 - Days Jaisalmer Sightseeing Tour: $150
- 4 - Days Jaisalmer Sightseeing Tour: $168
- Adventure Night With Cultural Show: $62
Tours and Activities in Rabat
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Rabat.
- 4WD adventure Todra Gorge to Dades Valley - Aventures Verticales Maroc: $63
- 9-Day Tour to Imperial Cities and Desert: $1,400
- Best of Rabat Tour (half-day): $78
- Fes Full Day Private Tour from Rabat: $250
- Fes Full-Day Private Tour from Rabat with hotel pickup : $132
- From Casablanca:9Days Unforgettable Desert Tour To Marrakesh: $1,924
- From Fez : Rabat : Day Trip (Shared Group Tour): $103
- From 4 Days 3 Nights Sahara Desert Tour: $720
- From Tangier Guided Day Tour by High-Speed Train: $105
- Gems of Rabat Walking Tour: $115
- Luxury Morocco: 5-Day Private Guided Tour from Casablanca: $1,397
- Private Boat Exploration Tour In Rabat: $83
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaisalmer $9.25Rabat -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaisalmer and Rabat, we can see that Rabat is more expensive. And not only is Jaisalmer much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jaisalmer is in Asia and Rabat is in Africa, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Jaisalmer would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaisalmer and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Rabat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rabat than you might in Jaisalmer.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaisalmer Expensive? and Is Rabat Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jaisalmer or Rabat?
Rabat has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Jaisalmer. When comparing the sizes of Jaisalmer and Rabat, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.